Quote Sheet: Digital Music Services and Windows Media Technologies

November 12, 2003
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Quote Sheet: Digital Music Services and Windows Media Technologies

Last updated: Nov. 12, 2003

“iTunes for Windows users can sync with only Apple’s iPod, not with the 40+ portable audio devices that support WMA 9. This shortcoming is unfortunate and a strange reversal of the norm for Apple and Microsoft, in which the latter is usually the company accused of locking users into its integrated solutions.”

“And, though the iTunes/iPod combo really is sweet, it’s not like Windows needed the help. Even without Apple’s addition, the Windows platform is already threatening to eclipse Mac as a preferred digital media platform.”

“To date, Microsoft really has had the only commercial option around on for Windows music stores. WMA has stood out as the really only viable, quality codec with built-in digital rights management. The DRM is one of the major reasons WMA appealed to MusicMatch, RealNetworks, Roxio and other companies opening digital music stores for Windows.

Editor’s note, Nov. 12, 2003: As originally published, the following quotation attributed words taken from an interview with Microsoft’s Dave Fester to columnist John Paczowski. The error was inadvertent, and Microsoft apologizes for the misunderstanding created.

“What’s more, songs downloaded from iTunes won’t play on digital music players not made by Apple. They will play on Mac or Windows PCs, and can be burned to CDs. But digital music players are a big part of the download appeal.”

“Most of those other services for Windows are distributing music in Microsoft’s Windows Media Audio (WMA) format, with the digital rights management software also produced by Microsoft. That means that songs purchased from BuyMusic.com, Musicmatch, Napster and other rivals can be played on any music device that supports Microsoft’s WMA–a list of about 40 different portable devices–and played in most major software MP3 programs.”

“Even though its iTunes system is considered one of the best online music stores, Windows users already hooked on Musicmatch or the new Napster have no reason to switch to a new Windows-based service from Apple”

“Apple might find it difficult to replicate the success of iTunes in the Windows universe. Apple enjoys strong brand recognition, but it has over the years been unable to convert many Windows users to Apple products.”

“Napster, Musicmatch, and most of the other services use Microsoft’s Windows Media format, which also has rights management. In fact, songs from the iTunes store won’t run on any of the roughly 40 portable devices that support Microsoft.”

“They’re going to have a serious problem with the Windows community,” Rob Enderle, principal of market research firm the Enderle Group, told Reuters. “If they could have gone there first, they could have carved out a beachhead.”

“By contrast, songs purchased from Apple, wrapped in its proprietary FairPlay content-protection technology, can be played only on the iPod, which represented 31 percent of all MP3 players sold in July and August.”